I
anchor up and down the SE
Florida coast - some summary of my favorites:
1. (by far). The West Palm Beach city
dock is FREE for day usage. It has
water, trash disposal, free trolley to excellent Publix, lots of places to eat from the
budget hamburger to dress up expensive dining. The tourists are polite, the police are ever present but never intrude. The dock is closed at night, I stay there anyway as they "look the other way" of festival and fireworks nights. When I am chased, the police start with, "pardon me
captain, this dock is closed at night. Is there any reason you can't conveniently move?" They have free
music once or twice a week - lots of places to walk, pet friendly.
2. Peanut Island - has access to more limited
shopping, very hard to find fresh
water - some free dinghy beach - and modest
security. Ok for a few days. Floating day dock with beach and nice places to walk and exercise.
3. North
Lake Worth - follow the
ICW South until it turns into the land cut toward Parker Bridge. Continue off the
ICW South, keeping Old Port Cove on your port side. Very good anchorage with moderate protection, Dinghy beach (fair, some theft) on the very South West side. Walk to Publix and excellent West
Marine. Good place if you need
boat parts.
4. South Beach area - very, very expensive. They will tow your dinghy if you tie up at any of the dinghy docks. Boater hostile area - $150/night for
Miami Beach Marina - and they are hostile also. But, best place to sight see tourism issues - lovely, excellent bicycle trail. Suggest you anchor at the North End of
Miami Beach and bicycle to South Beach
5. Marithon - this is the only place that is
MOORING ONLY - there is a limited anchorage, but they charge about the same for a dinghy dock as a mooring. Once moored, there is a large (300+)
boat community with everything you can imagine, pot luck, people to help, almost every
boating supply and a vibrant community of boaters. I lived on board there for 2 years - once on a mooring and one summer at a marina -- loved it.
6. Key West - nice for an occasional visit - both anchorage and mooring available, but far from the dinghy dock and over sometimes rough water. Good if you have a bigger dinghy and reasonable
engine - not so good with a small walker bay and oars. Key West is a lovely place to visit by boat.
Enjoy the
Winter here - it may get by
New England standards, but overall it is lovely.